SDGMWheelerH
NAME HENRY M. WHEELER
Grand Master of Dakota, 1887-1888
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BIOGRAPHY
From "The First 100 Years of the Grand Lodge A.F. & A.M. of South Dakota, 1875-1975", Page 39:’'
Henry Mason Wheeler was born on June 23, 1854, in North Newport, New Hampshire. He was educated in the public schools at Northfield, Minnesota. He received the degree of Doctor of Medicine from the University of Michigan in 1877 and did post-graduate work at the College of Physicians and Surgeons in New York during 1880. He practiced medicine in Northfield for a year before moving to Grand Forks, Dakota Territory.
On October 9, 1888, he was married to Miss Adeline Minoy who only lived a few years. He married Miss Josephine Connell on January 21, 1892, who died after a few years. On July 3, 1923, he married Miss Mae McCullough. To this union one son was born.
He was made a Mason in Social Lodge No. 48, Northfield, Minnesota, affiliating with Acacia Lodge No. 4, Grand Forks, in 1881.
He was exalted a Royal Arch Mason in Corinthian Chapter No. 33, Northfield, Minnesota. The orders of Christian Knighthood were conferred upon him by St. Aldemar Commandery No. 3 in Grand Forks.
1888
The Annual Communication of the Grand Lodge of Dakota was held in 1888 in Deadwood for the first time with Grand Master Wheeler presiding. The members of the Craft in attendance were pleased with Deadwood and they said so. The Resolutions Committee said, 'To many of us our visit here has been a revelation. Painters may illustrate and authors may write, but their descriptions fall short of the realities as we all now know."
The Grand Master presented a picture of optimism for the Craft when he said, "We have had a year of prosperity and flattering growth." He reported 100 lodges within the jurisdiction and a net gain in membership of 512 for a total of 4,088 members.
Dispensations had been issued during the year for lodges at Faulkton, Egan, Estelline, Armour, Britton, Hope, Tyndall, and Carthage. Charters were issued for these lodges during the meeting.
Most Worshipful Brother M. L. Youngs, Grand Lecturer of Wisconsin, again agreed to spend sixty days working in Dakota. The Grand Master sought and secured the services of Brother Oscar E. Rea of Dakota to accompany Brother Youngs for the purpose of acquiring the work and his methods of teaching. Due to his health Brother Youngs was forced to cut short his engagement. Brother Rea was then appointed Grand Lecturer, spent two weeks with Brother Youngs ni Milwaukee, and then returned ot carry out his work with the lodges.
The Constitution of the Grand Lodge was amended to include the Grand Lecturer as one of the officers.
The Committee on Masonic Jurisprudence, appointed at the last Annual, presented a report on Legitimate Masonry which was adopted by the Grand Lodge. In concluding its report the Committee said, "We assert without hesitation that as Ancient, Free and Accepted Masons, we know of no Masonry that this Grand Lodge can or should sanction as legitimate, except the degrees of Entered Apprentice, Fellow Craft, and Master Mason."
